Durango School District will add three new electric school buses to its fleet, thanks to a $900,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The funding, awarded by the department’s Clean Fleet Enterprise Board, is part of a statewide effort to reduce vehicle emissions through the Clean Fleet Vehicle and Technology Grant Program, according to a district news release.
Durango was one of only three districts statewide to receive funding in this round of awards, the release said.
Chief Operating Officer Chris Coleman said the district is thrilled to receive the funding, and that the new buses will “support cleaner, more efficient transportation for Durango students.”
“The latest generation of EV buses is advanced and reliable, and we’re confident they’ll perform well on our shorter routes,” he said in the release.
The buses are expected to begin service in fall 2026, depending on equipment availability and installation timelines, according to the release.
The district plans to collaborate with La Plata Electric Association and pursue additional grants to complete needed electrical upgrades.
“While exact long-term cost savings are still being evaluated, industry data shows that electric buses generally offer lower per-mile operating costs and reduced maintenance needs compared with diesel buses,” the release said.
In 2021, the district purchased a fully electric 81-seat school bus and charging infrastructure through a partnership with LPEA and a grant from the Regional Air Quality Council’s ALT Fuels Colorado program.
The bus began driving regular service routes in early 2022.
According to the release, it was one of the first operational electric school buses and the first vehicle-to-grid capable school bus in the state.
“As one of the first school districts in Colorado to put an electric bus into daily service, we are proud to lead with purpose ‒ offering our students a cleaner, healthier ride while protecting the air we all breathe,” said district Superintendent Karen Cheser. “We’re thrilled to build on this momentum and continue expanding our sustainability efforts, because building a greener future isn’t just an option ‒ it’s our responsibility to the community we serve.”
epond@durangoherald.com
